Telecom Asia articles from May 2005

Telecom Asia archives from May 2005

Fiber comes home.(TANNER)
May 1, 2005... Asia Pacific finally has its own industry forum to promote the rollout of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services. It's called the FTTH Council Asia-Pacific, and it's about time. North America and Europe already have their own FTTH councils, so why...

Finding MIMO: today Wi-Fi, tomorrow 3G?(FIRST MILE)
May 1, 2005... Now that MIMO-enhanced Wi-Fi systems have hit the market, interest is growing in other possible MIMO applications, including some that could impact service provider networks. MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) leverages multi-path...

Telecoms supplies see double-digit growth.(STAT SNAP)
May 1, 2005... In the latest indication that the telecom sector is growing healthier, 2004 turned out to be a good year for networking and telecom equipment suppliers, with global sales up a cool 13% for the year compared to 2004, according to Synergy...

China firms rush to upgrade to digital trunking systems.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
May 1, 2005... China Satcom and Railcom are aggressively developing digital trunking communication networks because the Chinese authorities will ban analog bandwidth by the end of the year. To gain market share, China's indigenous telecom equipment OEMs...

FTTH crucial to home networking.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2005... Increasing the flow of digital content through fiber "pipes" is the key to effectively bring media content into the home. ABI Research says true home media networking can only be achieved when concerns like the bandwidth of the "pipe" that...

China to add 250m cellphone users by 2010.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2005... China is expected to have more than 580 million mobile subscribers by 2010, many of whom will be using 3G-enabled handsets. Visiongain says China will end 2005 with 386 million cellphone users, after registering 334 million wireless subscribers...

Broadband lines jump 50% in 2004.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2005... The number of broadband lines worldwide, after expanding 50% in 2004 to 150.5 million lines, is forecast to reach 215 million lines by the end of the year. Point Topic says DSL lines will continue to dominate the broadband market at 140 million...

Europe data centers to gross $962m by '07.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... Data centers in Europe are expected to hit revenues of 745 million euros ($962 million) by 2007, growing more than 100% from 2003 levels. A broadening of the customer base, the provision of managed services, regulatory requirements in the...

Enterprise VoIP gains momentum Japan.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
May 1, 2005... Business confidence in Japan has turned bullish. As investment picks up, 2005 is already showing signs it will be the biggest year yet for enterprise VoIP. "I'm seeing many companies that already have their VoIP budgets approved," said...

Microsoft: a matter of (anti) trust.(RESEND: Flashbacks, updates and nostalgia: Telecom Asia, May 2000)
May 1, 2005... SYNOPSIS: In the midst of the landmark court ruling that Microsoft practiced anti-competitive behavior (and the subsequent hoopla over whether the decision was anti-free market or not), less noticed was the news that Microsoft had just bought...

China Telecom and China Netcom will invest a combined 27.2b yuan ($3.28b).(BEIJING)
May 1, 2005... China Telecom and China Netcom will invest a combined 27.2b yuan ($3.28b) in telecom equipment this year.

China Telecom and China Mobile sign strategic cooperation agreement under which the companies will hold talks at regular intervals to map out development plans and resolve problems that hinder the industry.(BEIJING)
May 1, 2005... China Telecom and China Mobile sign strategic cooperation agreement under which the companies will hold talks at regular intervals to map out development plans and resolve problems that hinder the industry. The two companies will also focus...

PCCW returns to the black in 2004 with a net profit of HK$1.64b ($210m), compared to a massive losses in 2003.(HONG KONG)(Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... PCCW returns to the black in 2004 with a net profit of HK$1.64b ($210m), compared to a massive losses in 2003. The company attributes the strong performance to substantial growth in the Unihub and broadband business and accelerated uptake of...

China Netcom announces its first financial results since listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last year.(HONG KONG)
May 1, 2005... China Netcom announces its first financial results since listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last year, booking 9.25b yuan ($1.1b) in net profits for 2004, up 14.2% year-on-year from the previous year.

ISPs in Thailand file an appeal with the National Telecom Commission (NTC).(BANGKOK)
May 1, 2005... ISPs in Thailand file an appeal with the National Telecom Commission (NTC) on the issuance of new Internet licenses before these licenses expire this year.

True introduces a dual-mode phone that will allow users to switch.(BANGKOK)
May 1, 2005... True introduces a dual-mode phone that will allow users to switch between its PCT network and subsidiary TA Orange's GSM network.

The NTC threatens to tax unused telephone numbers in a bid to push the TOT to allocate private mobile firms more phone numbers.(BANGKOK)
May 1, 2005... The NTC threatens to tax unused telephone numbers in a bid to push the TOT to allocate private mobile firms more phone numbers. The warning follows a complaint by TA Orange that it still has not received the one million numbers TOT had promised...

Pakistan Telecommunication plans to invest $40m to build a new submarine fiber-cable linking Southeast Asia.(ISLAMABAD)
May 1, 2005... Pakistan Telecommunication plans to invest $40m to build a new submarine fiber-cable linking Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Telkomsel will invest $700m this year to expand its cellular and 3G services.(JAKARTA)
May 1, 2005... Telkomsel will invest $700m this year to expand its cellular and 3G services and expects to increase its subscriber base by 55% in 2005.

Telkom will set aside $181m this year to raise the capacity of its CDMA-based Flexi fixed-wireless network.(JAKARTA)
May 1, 2005... Telkom will set aside $181m this year to raise the capacity of its CDMA-based Flexi fixed-wireless network. The company is targeting around 1.7m new subscribers to boost its subscriber base to 3m by yearend.

The board of Telekom Malaysia approves plans to list wholly owned Sri Lanka.(KUALA LUMPUR)
May 1, 2005... The board of Telekom Malaysia approves plans to list wholly owned Sri Lanka subsidiary MTN Networks.

The debate between telecom and broadcasting regulators over the jurisdiction of IP TV is intensifying, after the Korean Broadcasting Commission announced plans to start trial operations for the new multimedia services.(SEOUL)
May 1, 2005... The debate between telecom and broadcasting regulators over the jurisdiction of IP TV is intensifying, after the Korean Broadcasting Commission announced plans to start trial operations for the new multimedia services. However, the Ministry of...

The MIC fines mobile operators and ISPs a total of 5.3b won ($5m) for engaging in unfair marketing.(SEOUL)
May 1, 2005... The MIC fines mobile operators and ISPs a total of 5.3b won ($5m) for engaging in unfair marketing, and charging customers for value-added services that customers did not request.

Chunghwa Telecom posts revenues of NT$185.2b ($5.87b) and a net income of NT$50.9b ($1.6b) for 2004.(TAIPEI)
May 1, 2005... Chunghwa Telecom posts revenues of NT$185.2b ($5.87b) and a net income of NT$50.9b ($1.6b) for 2004, up 7.6% from the previous year.

Softbank withdraws its lawsuit against the Ministry of Internal Affairs.(TOKYO)
May 1, 2005... Softbank withdraws its lawsuit against the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications over its plan to allocate 800-MHz frequency bandwidth to NTT DoCoMo and KDDI.

NTT develops a new switch for GE-PON that can process optical signals at 10 Gbps.(TOKYO)
May 1, 2005... NTT develops a new switch for GE-PON that can process optical signals at 10 Gbps. Once all of the components required for GE-PON fall into place, the new switch chip will enable the pipeline to the home to carry data streams of 300 Mbps.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore flees up the 2.3- and 2.5- GHz frequency bands for broadband wireless services.(SINGAPORE)
May 1, 2005... The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore flees up the 2.3- and 2.5- GHz frequency bands for broadband wireless services, a move which will allow new entrants to use a range of new wireless technologies beyond Wi-Fi, such as WiMAX and...

SingTel is offering broadband customers more than 25 channels of new and exclusive video-on-demand content.(SINGAPORE)
May 1, 2005... SingTel is offering broadband customers more than 25 channels of new and exclusive video-on-demand content. SingTel is working with M2B World, a US-based provider of entertainment and education on-demand content, to provide the content from...

National Telecommunications Commission releases a draft policy that would allow non-telco players to provide voice calls through the Internet for as low as 10 cents per minute.(MANILA)
May 1, 2005... The National Telecommunications Commission releases a draft policy that would allow non-telco players to provide voice calls through the Internet for as low as 10 cents per minute. PLDT and Globe claim the draft policy threatens their...

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is planning to reduce rates of domestic leased-line circuits.(NEW DELHI)
May 1, 2005... The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is planning to reduce rates of domestic leased-line circuits, following an announcement on the reduction in international leased-line tariffs in March.

Tara Group plans to spend an additional 100b rupees ($2.28b) over the next 12 to 16 months.(NEW DELHI)
May 1, 2005... Tara Group plans to spend an additional 100b rupees ($2.28b) over the next 12 to 16 months to coordinate growth of its telecom units.

BSNL sets a target of 10m direct exchange lines in fiscal 2005-06.(NEW DELHI)
May 1, 2005... BSNL sets a target of 10m direct exchange lines in fiscal 2005-06, according to a MoU signed between the state-owned telco and the Department of Telecommunications.

Three Republican senators are urging a government panel to investigate the national security implications.(movements)
May 1, 2005... Three Republican senators are urging a government panel to investigate the national security implications of the $130m sale of a network of US undersea communications cables to India's largest phone and broadband company.

The European Commission authorizes a Spanish subsidy scheme.(movements)
May 1, 2005... The European Commission authorizes a Spanish subsidy scheme that aims at boosting investments in broadband communications in rural and remote areas.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launches a three-year program to monitor interconnection.(movements)
May 1, 2005... The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launches a three-year program to monitor interconnection between broadband service providers and to begin regulating these interconnections if it finds anti-competitive practices.

ECI Telecom signs an agreement to acquire the optical activities and technology of China's Eastern Communications for an undisclosed amount.(movements)
May 1, 2005... ECI Telecom signs an agreement to acquire the optical activities and technology of China's Eastern Communications for an undisclosed amount. The operations of the acquired unit will be merged with ECI's existing joint venture, Hangzhou ECI...

Alcatel president and COO Philippe Germond announces his intention to resign from the company.(movements)
May 1, 2005... Alcatel president and COO Philippe Germond announces his intention to resign from the company.

Virgin Mobile pulls back from a major 3G rollout scheduled this summer.(movements)
May 1, 2005... Virgin Mobile pulls back from a major 3G rollout scheduled this summer because of insufficient interest from British consumers.

Fujitsu and Alcatel will team up to build 3G networks in China.(movements)
May 1, 2005... Fujitsu and Alcatel will team up to build 3G networks in China. A statement from Fujitsu says that the two companies would be targeting a 15% market share of the Chinese mobile market.

ZTE opens a major research and development facility in India.(movements)
May 1, 2005... ZTE opens a major research and development facility in India, which it will use to manufacture CDMA, GSM, DSL, NGN and handsets.

Nortel Networks invest $10m in equity in Indian.(movements)
May 1, 2005... Nortel Networks invest $10m in equity in Indian outsourcing firm Sasken Communication Technologies.

MCI is nearly doubling its wireless Internet access footprint.(movements)
May 1, 2005... MCI is nearly doubling its wireless Internet access footprint by expanding its hotspot coverage in the US, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Optus buys Reef Networks for $71.6m to expand its network coverage in Australia.(movements)
May 1, 2005... Optus buys Reef Networks for $71.6m to expand its network coverage in Australia. Reef owns a fiber-optic network between Brisbane and Cairns in the northeastern state of Queensland.

Winning over the enterprise: the battle for the hearts and minds of CIOs is an uphill struggle as service providers move up the value chain and start to encroach on the domain of it system integrators. The higher margins of end-to-end managed services are an attractive prize, but few are getting the formula right.(Cover story)
May 1, 2005... Large enterprises are increasingly moving to outsource their network services to a single vendor and not look at the call centers, data centers and infrastructure in isolation. At the same time, networks are growing in complexity as...

The two faces of VPLS: after several years of fence-sitting, a growing number of operators seem ready to take Ethernet-based services to the next stage with VPLS. The catch is that VPLS looks likely to go to market with two flavors--Juniper's, and everyone else's.(NETWORK)
May 1, 2005... For several years now, Ethernet-based services have been growing in popularity among carriers worldwide. Last year, wide-area Ethernet data traffic grew 75%, according to Infonetics, edging out IP/MPLS (which grew 62% in 2004), and stomping old...

Wi-Fi's future in a different light: doubt over Wi-Fi's viability as a moneymaker hasn't stopped telcos across the region from rolling out hotspots. In part, that's because they now see it as a single but key piece to the total broadband connectivity puzzle.(SERVICES)
May 1, 2005... As Wi-Fi hotspots continue to spring up around airport lounges, cafes, and hotels worldwide, telecom carriers in the region have also embraced Wi-Fi, offering hotspot service as a complementary or value-added service to customers. Moreover,...

Forum shifts to Yokohama.(PREVIEW: Broadband World Forum Asia 2005)
May 1, 2005... The Broadband World Forum Asia, the premiere conference and technology exhibition for the telecom industry, is returning to the region at a new location--Yokohama, Japan. The forum this year will bring together executives from carriers and...

Broadband faces up to the margin squeeze.(TELECOM FORUM)
May 1, 2005... If 2004 was the year when broadband found its stride and hit the mainstream in developed economies, 2005 is the year of growing confidence--but also tempered with an awareness that financial success will continue to be hard to win. The...

HVPLS-enabled carrier Ethernet routers.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2005... Riverstone Networks has added Hierarchical Virtual Private LAN Service (HVPLS) technology to both its RS and Riverstone 15000 product lines of Ethernet routers. The HVPLS technology extends the capabilities of MPLS-based Ethernet, giving...

New IPTV standard.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)(Optibase Inc.)(internet protocol television)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... Optibase's H.264 standard, or the MPEG-4 part 10 AVC, provides DVD-quality video at less than 1.5 Mbps. It is designed to overcome network bandwidth limitations by offering greater compression. This standard is seen replacing the MPEG-2 format...

Virtual contact center features.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2005... BT Infonet has enhanced its network-based contact center services, or ICCS, with various new features that allow customer contact via voice, email, fax, SMS and Web-based messaging even without a premises-based ACD or PBX. The enhancement also...

Security solution for mobile messages.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2005... Network Security Solutions, a Kuala-Lumpur-based company specialized in information security consulting, solutions and products, has launched Xecure Message Service (XMS), software that provides end-to-end security for transmission of mobile...

PA modules with InGaP HBT MMIC technology.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2005... Agilent Technologies' recently announced family of 4 mm by 4 mm power amplifier (PA) modules features CoolPAM technology, which reduces battery power consumption and allows mobile handsets to run cooler. Agilent says the company's CoolPAM...

Compact 3-in-1 wireless broadband router.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2005... Linksys has introduced the Compact Wireless-G Broadband router, a 3-in-1 device that serves as a wireless access point, built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 switch and a router. It allows users to connect via 802.11g or 802.11b, connect wired...

Trend Micro provides Sina with security solutions.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)(Sina.com)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... Trend Micro has agreed to provide advanced security protection for Sina's more than 100 million email users in China and the global Chinese community. Trend Micro will provide a number of security services to Sina's customers, beginning...

Support for ISUP-based 3G monitoring.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2005... ReLease 3.0 of the Dilithium Networks Analyzer (DNA) provides support for ISUP terminal and monitoring, ISUP signaling to initiate and receive calls, and ISUP-based trigger for traffic monitoring. It can also monitor multiple simultaneous...

Netcom's top three join PCCW board.(TELECOM CAREER)(Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd.- Zhang Chunjiang, Dr Edward Tian Suning , Dr Fan Xingcha)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... PCCW appointed China Netcom's top three executives, chairman Zhang Chunjiang, CEO Dr Edward Tian Suning and CFO Dr Fan Xingcha, as non-executive directors, following Netcom's purchase of a 20% stake in PCCW. Zhang has been appointed as a...

Vodafone Australia appoints director.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Vodafone Australia has appointed Wendy Lenton as the director of People and Brand, replacing Deb Howcroft who leaves Vodafone Australia to take up the post of director of high performance culture at Vodafone Group in the UK.

SK Telecom adds three directors.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... SK Telecom has increased the number of independent directors from four to seven as part of its efforts to improve its corporate governance. It has appointed Dae Gyu Byun (president of Humax Co.), Dae Sik Kim (professor of Hanyang University and...

Motorola's new regional president.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Motorola has promoted Simon Leung president to lead the company's 20,000 employees in the Asia-Pacific region, Leung was previously senior vice president of the Motorola networks' business in the region. He will continue to lead the...

T-Systems loses CEO.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Deutsche Telekom has announced that chief executive Kai-Uwe Ricke has taken over responsibility for the business customers strategic unit, replacing Konrad Reiss, who died suddenly and unexpectedly last month. Reiss, 47-years-old, was chief...

Alcatel's SVP for enterprise.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Alcatel has promoted Clifton Yong to senior vice president of enterprise business for Asia Pacific, based in Shanghai. Yong joined Alcatel as managing director of its Singapore and Brunei business in January 2002. Prior to joining Alcatel,...

New appointments at Nortel.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Nortel Networks has appointed Gary Kunis as CTO, taking over from Brian McFadden, a 26year Nortel veteran who has been appointed to the role of chief research officer. Mark Stevens has been named president of Nortel Australia and New...

Gemplus names Asia president.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Gemplus International has appointed Dr Martin McCourt as president of Gemplus Asia. McCourt joins the general management committee and will be responsible for the whole of Asia. He will report to Alex Mandl, president and CEO.

BNS appoints country manager.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... IP TV solutions provider Broadband Network Systems has appointed Dr. Jun Hu as China country manager, based at the company's Beijing office. Hu will lead BNS' business development and project management activities in the area of IP TV...

QMT's new executive team.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Qualcomm has appointed an executive management team for its MEMS (MicroElectro-Mechanical-Systems) business. Greg Heinzinger has been appointed as senior vice president and general manager to lead newly formed Qualcomm MEMS Technologies...

Dilithium taps Ericsson executive.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Mitch Lewis has joined Dilithium Networks as vice president of marketing. Lewis comes to Dilithium from Ericsson Indonesia, where he was president and country manager.

Japan sales manager for Tundra.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2005... Tundra Semiconductor, which designs and develops system interconnect solutions for the communications and storage markets, has appointed Akira Enomoto regional sales manager for Japan.

Asia telecom transactions index.(TELECOM CORPORATE)
May 1, 2005... Asia telecom transactions index Seller Buyer Huawei Technologies Telecom Malaysia International Bangladesh Huawei Technologies Sun Cellular ZTE WorldTel Bangladesh...

TA Index extends fall by 2.6%.(TA 30 TELECOM STOCK INDEX 16 MAR-14 APR, 05)
May 1, 2005... The TA Index, after a 0.8% drop last month, ended 2.6% lower at 1,144 points, as Asian stock markets finished mixed amid concerns over rising oil prices and doubts over the strength of US economic recovery. Decliners exceeded gainers 21 to 9....

Networking opportunities across Asia.(EVENTS CALENDAR)(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... Networking opportunities across Asia Date Event Location May 16, 2005 Telecom Asia Awards Bali, Indonesia May 16-May 19, 2005 CSG Success Conference Bali, Indonesia ...

Tapping global opportunities.(PREVIEW: CommunicAsia2005: 14-17 June)
May 1, 2005... CommunicAsia2005, the largest IT and telecom exhibition in the region, is becoming an increasingly important springboard for Asian companies to expand overseas. This year new country groups from Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia are...

All paths lead to IP.(FUTURE WIRELESS)
May 1, 2005... Fixed-mobile convergence has become telecom's Rorschach inkblot test. Everyone who looks at it sees something different. Depending on whom you speak to, the emphasis might be on the convergence of services, networks or devices, or between...

Singing from the same spreadsheet.(INSIDE LINE)
May 1, 2005... Phone bills attract more complaints than any other consumer item. So telco customers might be surprised, if not actually feel a touch of schadenfreude, to learn that billing is hard for carriers as well. That's especially true in the...

Security: service providers to collect and share fingerprints.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)(Brief article)
May 1, 2005... SECURITY: Service providers to collect and share fingerprints Hacker attacks don't just hurt PC users--network operators and service providers also feel the pain. Now, telcos and ISPs are gearing up to fight back-by sharing fingerprints....

CRM.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)
May 1, 2005... CRM: It's looking like mixed bag for the call center outsourcing sector in the next few years. The good news is that demand is on the rise in India and the Philippines, the latter of which is rising fast as a serious competitor to India's...

Justice.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)
May 1, 2005... JUSTICE: You know by now that former WorldCom chief Bernie Ebbers was convicted on nine separate counts for his part in the WorldCom fraud scandal. The big question now is: how much time will he serve for his crimes? We won't find out...

VoIP.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)
May 1, 2005... VoIP: The success of local VoIP telephony will depend in no small part on its marketing--and VoIP players so far have been largely getting it wrong. That was the verdict from Pulver.com legal counsel Jonathan Askin, who said during a panel...